You Stay Classy, Canada: Canadian Women's Hockey Team Angers IOC

Winning a gold medal is certainly something to celebrate. Championships have always set off spontaneous celebrations from teams, players, and of course their fans.

So why is the IOC (International Olympic Committee) now investigating the Canadian women's hockey team for their celebration last night after winning the gold medal?

Some would say that this is all "much ado about nothing." The initial celebration that ensued after the final horn sounded was completely what you would expect.

It was what took place about 30 minutes later that has many in the IOC, the COC (Canadian Olympic Committee), and others looking for an explanation this morning.

Champagne, beer, and cigars accompanied the Canadian women back out on to the ice for a very public celebration.

The Associated Press reported the following reaction from Gilbert Felli, the IOC's executive director of the Olympic Games; Felli said it was "not what we want to see."

"I don't think it's a good promotion of sport values," he said. "If they celebrate in the changing room, that's one thing, but not in public. We will investigate what happened."

Marie-Philip Poulin, who scored both goals in the game, was shown on the ice holding a beer. Poulin, who is 18, does not turn 19 until next month. For the record, legal drinking age in British Columbia is 19.

Mark Adams, a spokesman from the IOC said, "We understand that they were asked to go back onto the playing field after the stadium had emptied to take a photo. We understand that some people may have felt that their behavior was over-exuberant."

So where did the alcohol come from?

In most professional celebrations the locker room is stocked and ready when the champions make their way in, but of course this is the Olympics, not the New York Yankees in Yankee Stadium. Steve Keough, a spokesman for the Canadian Olympic Committee, said the COC had not provided the alcohol nor initiated the party.

Of course what should have been the big story is that the Canadian woman once again took the gold medal, beating the USA women 2-0. The gold medal was the third straight for the Canadian women's hockey program.

Celebrations in the Olympics are normally pretty reserved. The National Anthem is played, the medals are presented, and the medalist wave to the crowd.

You usually don't see champagne, beer, and cigars...at least publicly.

So was the celebration inappropriate? Should it have stayed in the locker room, instead of spilling out onto the ice?

What do you think? I'm sure we will hear more about this in the coming days.